Illuminating apparatus for scales.



H. H. BANE & S. G. GRANE. ILLUMINATING APPARATUS FOR SGALES.

APPLIGATION FILED JUNE 12, 1908.

Patented Oct. 19,1909

HHBame J G! Ufa/W /N1 1 .1018? By w A TTORNE V,

" DAYTON, OHIO.

UNITED STATES PATENT @FFICE.

HARRY H. BANE AND SAMUEL G. CRANE, OF KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI, ASSIGNORS, BY

DIRECT AND MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, F ONE-THIRD TO HENRY B. PRUDEN, ONE- THIRD TO EARL R. LINES, .ANI) ONE-THIRD '10 CHARLES B. LONGSTRETI-I, ALL OF ILLUMINATING APPARATUS F0121 SCALES.

Specification of Letters Patent. Patented @gt, 19 @9199,

Application filed June 12, 1908. Serial No. 438,079. I

, To all whom it may concern:

' clear, and exactdescription of the invention,

such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertams to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to thefigures of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification- Our invention .relates to an illuminating device for scales, and more particularly to a device adapted for use with computingscales; the object of our invention being to rovide means for automatically illuminating the scale chart or beam at each operation of the scale.

A further object of our invention is to secure such illumination in such manner as to minimize the possibility of affecting the operation or accuracy of the scale.

In accomplishing these objects, we have provided the improved details of structure which will presently be fully described and pointed out in the following claims, referenoe being had to the accompanying drawin s in which igure I is a perspective View of a scale equipped with an illuminating device 0011- structeda'ccording to our invention, a portion of the scale being broken away to illustrate our improvements and the portion of the scale mechanism with which the illu- I minatingparts are connected. FigQIIis an 40.

enlarged detail view, in perspective, of the 5 contact mechanism; Fig. III is a. circuit nating device.

In computing scales in particular, it has heretofore been difficult to secure a proper reading of the computation chart, owing to the small figures contained thereon and the fact that often these scales are located in j such places as not to attord adequate light to assist in the readin oieration. This l light on the reading portions of the chart. The present invention is designed to remedy these previous dii'iiculties. It dispenses with iniuation on the chart which is automatically arranged so as to light up the chart at each operation of the scale, and at the same time "to preserve simplicity and accuracy; also to wlacilitate the assembling and adjusting oi the parts and seedling other desiderata peculiar to machines of this sort.

Referring more in detailto the parts :1 designates the scale base and frame upon which a platform 2 is supported by means of a lever mechanism. the arm of which is designated by the numeral 3.

ldesignatcs a chart. frame within which is located a chart card 5 that may bear the usual weight and price graduations used with any type of computing scale.

15 designates a pendulum having a pivoted hub 7, the upper end of the pendulum being adapted for moven'ient over the chart and the hub being connected with the free" end of the scale lever by aribbon 9.

l0 designates av bracket that is preferably attached to the inner surface of the scale frame adjacent to the lever arm 3. Attached to and projecting laterally from bracket 10 is being provided with a bii'iding post 12 and with a threaded perforation, through which a threaded pin 13 is adjustably projected.

Also carried by bracket 10 is a plate 14,-

which carries a. binding post 15 and has a slot 16 in its lower end; the plate 14- being insulated from the arimll, preferably by constructing the bracket 10 0t non-conductive material. livotcd within the slot '16 in plate 14 by means of :1 pin l7 is a beam 1.8,

of conductive material. one arm of which is an arm 11 of conductive material; such arm I disadvantage has been attempted to be reinedied bythe use of reflecting mirrors to throw the use of any such mirrors and gives an. .illucard and scale plate; such lamp being preferably of an incandescent type and so connected with the contact mechanism and a source of electrical supply that the Circuit through the lamp may be opened and closed by the,operatiou' of such mechanism, the preferred connection comprising a battery 22 that: is locate the scale frame and has one oi its pole. connected by a wire 23 With one ol the binding posts of the contact mechanism and the other with a lamp by a Wire 24, the second post inthe mechanism being connected with the lamp by a wire 25.

in using a devi e of this character, the contact and illuminating parts are applied to the scale mechanism, which may be of any ordinary type, either computing, floor, platform, etc, so that the lamp will illuminate the beam or chart and the scale lever will engage and slightly lift the weighted end of the beam 20 when the lever returns to normal after a weighing operation. When the parts are so arrangedv and the scale in balance, the pendulum end oi the scale lever will. engage the weighted end of the beam l8, rocking that end upwardly and the opposite end downwardly so that he plate 19 will he. moved out of contact With the pin 13 to break the circuit through the parts connecting with the battery and lamp. When, however. it is desired to use the scales, an article is placed on the platform 2, which rocks the scale lever 3 sothat its free end is moved downwardly away from the beam 18. The. weighted end of the beam, being; relieved of the support of the scale lever rocked down "ardly, elevating the plate end unt l the plate 19 is brought into contact with LllQ point of pin 13, when a circuit is closed from battery 92 through wire 23. lamp ll, wire 25, post 15, plate 14, pin ll, beam 18, plate 19, pin 13, bracket ll, post. 22, and wire 2 and the lamp 21 lighted to illuminate the scale chart or beam. As soon as the. weight is removed from the scale platform the lever arm 3 will again rise into engagement with and rock the beam 18. separating the pin and plate contacts, and breaking the circuit, so that the. light from the lamp is extinguished; the parts remaining in this normal condition ready tori). succeeding: operation.

It can readily be seen that when the parts are properly adjusted a very slight pressure. is snliicient to rock the contact beam. as such. action does not vary for ditl'erent loads of the. scale. it can also readily be seen that the a tion of the contact mechanism can not in any Way interfere with the correct operation of the scale, as. the contact beam is rocked of its own weight as the scale. lever moves away from it, and, being held at the end opposite the scalc"leveu by the pin 13, does not touch the lever While the latter is in actual operation.

While we show a battery as the source from which the lighting energy is taken it is readily apparent that the lamp and contact mechanism may be connected with ageneral lighting circuit.

As just above pointed out, when the scale is operated by placing some article upon the scale platform, the scale lever 3 moves downward away from the contact beam 18 and permits the latter to assume its normal contact-making position resting against the pin 13 to close the circuit and light the lamp. This construction of the switch is therefore such as to permit the continued movement of the scale lever independently of the contact device, so that there is no interference with the action of the scale in connection with the making of the electric circuit. It is therefore apparent that the contact beam 18 is allowed to strike thecontact set screw or pin 13 and thereby cause lighting of the lamp ata certain point at displacement of the scale lever 3 downward. from normal. position. The said Contact is made in this form of a threaded pin or set screw in order to permit the end of the pin to he raised or lowered and thereby vary the relation between the beam 18 and the pin l3 so as to vary the point at which the lighting circuit is made or broken. This adjustment by changing the position of the contact 13 thereby causes the scale lever 3 to control the movable contact beam 18 over a greater or less extent of the movement of the scale lever 23. That is, the parts are organized that the scale lever controls the contact device, but becomes free therefrom at a certain point. and this particular adjustability ot' the contact. device is so arranged as to vary the point. referred to and thus control the range. of movement in excess of which the scale lever becomes tree "from the contact device. The result of this construction is that the scale may be adjusted. to cause the. illumination to occur at any desired point of displacement of the scale lever downward. ll desired the adjustment. may he made so that a small oscillation of the scale lever in the vicinity of its normal position of rest,

will not light and extinguish the lamp. Or

the adjustment may be such as to ca se the lighting to take place upon a ver. small increment of movement away from normal position. l iikewise his permits adjustmentof the contact device in eolmection with first v setting up the scale for use so as to cause the lighting to take place properly timed in con nection with the initial regulating oi the parts to set the scale. lever at its zero position before the scale is put in use for weighin".

Other forms of switch and of lighting means might be utilized for automatically controlling the lamp circuit by the scale lever; and although there are certain material ere-"2,573

lively moving the contact device into conwith said pin. a lamp, a source of elecl:

tact-making position. It simply holds the 'contack device out of normal contact-making position during the small extent of move ment in the vicinity of lhe zero position of the scale lever.

Having l'llllS described our inveniion, what we claim as new therein and desire io secure by Letters Patentz- -1. In an illuminaring apparatus for scales, the combination with a scale lever adapted for vertical rocking"movement. of circuit making and breaking parts comprising ll conductor plate, a conductor arm insulated "from said plate, a conductor pin carried by aid arm and aclapfcd for adjustmenl' (herein, a conductor beam pivoted to said plate with one end projecting into the path of said scale lever and at one end-adapted for engagement cal supply, and n'ieans for separately connect ing the conducior plale and arm with the lamp and source of eleclrical supply.

2. The combinaiion with a scale fra'nie and rocking lover, of an insulating bracliei plate carried by said bracket and provided with a transverse groove at one end a concluctor arm mounted on said bracket and insulated thereby from said plalc, a (011* duc'lor pin ailljusiably niountcd in and pro jecting' from said arn'r, a conductor beam pivoted in the groove in said plaic and having); one eml'projeclcil over said scale lever and the opposite end projected beneath said pin, a conflict plate on said beam adapted for cnegeinenl with said pin, a lamp. :1 source of electrical supply, a binding posl on sziid plate, and said arm, and means for conneciing i'lic lamp and elmltricfrl supply with said.

binding; posts, subslzlnrially as and iori'he purpose set forth. l i v In an illuminating apparatus for scales lihe combination with a scale lover, adapted for 'ertical rocking movement, of circuit making and breaking parl's comprising a conductor plai'c, a conductor arm insuluicd from said plate, a conductor pin carried by said arm, and adapted for :uljustmcnt thoroiii, 4 conductor beam pivoi'cd to said pinto projecting into the path of said scale lover and at one end adapted for engagement with said pin, a lamp, a source of eleifiirical. supply. and means for separately connecting the conductor plate and arm with the lamp and source of electrical supply.

4. In an illuminating device for scales, the combination with the weighing elements of the scale oi an illuminating" lamp: and means conlrollccl by one of the movable members of the for automatically lighting the lamp, said means being construclcd lo lighl the lamp immediately upon the movcmenh of said scale member from normal. position and also consl'rucl'ed to remain out of contact with the scale member over its entire weighing range of moven'ienl'.

5. In an ilhnninaiing device for computing): scales the combination Willi the weighing olcmenis of the scale, and a computation indicating chart cooperating ihereivil'b, of an ilhuninalinn lamp; a normally open switch for controlling the illumination of said lamp: and connections conirolled by one oflhe movable members of ihe scale for perniing said. suite-in said switch and connections being conslructe -llo close lhc switch innue- (lialely upon lhc movement of said scale member from nornml zero position and to maintain it closed over The entire \vcighing' range of movement of the scale membcn but lo open the switch when said scale member is at normal zero position or beyond iis range of i fghing positions.

(5. {in illuminating device for computing: scales"comprising The combination of the \vei' mg clcincnis oi the scale. computation hula-ailing olcnuuis including a conmutulion char; and cia'vpcraling \viih connections (0 said weighing elements for indicating the various compulatiou values according to the various weighing an electric lamp positioned in immediate proximity to said chart and arranged to illuminate i'hc said indications thereon: a normally open electric circuit for said lamp: and mcaus autonm'ically ziciin ated by one of l'hc movable members of the scale for immediately closing said circuit and illuminating the chart: lamp as soon as lho said scale member and said iudiculgingz elements have moved ini'o the range of weighion of compuiuing positions for the indical lion values. v

T. 'lhc conibiual ion with a weighing scale oi" an illuminaliu" lamp' means for causing the lighting of nu lamp, said means being; auloma'licallyconlr lled by one of the movable ll-llllllltllv of the scale lo cause lighting al a poini' oi disphiccmciuv oi the movable member from normal posilion: and maintain the lifghl ing during the continued range oi displacement of said member: and means for adjusting lhc point of displacement at which lho lighting: is cil'ccl'cd.

H, 'llucombination with a weighing scale; of all electric illuminating lamp therefor, and a circuit for said lamp including amakc and brcalc contact device; connections with ill) tho movable, parts of the scale for holding tho rontarlv deviro out of circuit making position when tho said movable parts are in normal position, and ctlerting contact making \Yllrn said parts are displarvd from normal position: and moans for varying the relation hotwrvn said l-ont'artv dvvioo and said ronnol-tions \rhrrl'liy to vary the point of displarenwnt of said movable parts at which lighting (-ontal-t is mado or broken.

9. 'lho combination with a weighing scale, of anulvrt'ril-v illuminating" lamp therefor, and a rim-nil for said lamp; :1 contact making derive in said rirruit (-onslrnolilafl with provision l'oi' normally tvnding to make contact; and a (-onnort'ion lwtwoon a movable \ltilltlll ot' said srah' and said contact d0- viw tllllrlll'llt'lttl to hold thr rontnot'. dovico onl ol normal vonlart makin position (\llili tho said morahh sralo rlomonl in normal positioin lint allowing tho ronlaot tltYlCl, to assume normal contart-making position 'llljl said inovalilv olmnvnt is displacod from tho normal position, and permitting l-ontinnod lllOYtlllQlll of said soalo olomont independent of the contactv doviro.

10. The combination with a weighing scale embodying a mova'olo element act-nalod upon the weighing movement. of tho scale ol an electric illuminating lamp for the scale. and a circuit 't'or said lamp: a con tact making dcvirtin said. circuit -onstrnrtod to normally tvnd to assmno 0n tact making position imlv 'wmlently of said movalilr vlomunt and ronnoutions with Said movalilv elomom for opposing the normal EllllUll of tho ronlarl drviro and holding the samo out of -ontart-making position when the said sl-alo olomrnt is in normal position but purmitting it, to assume normal. uon- 25 lal-twnia'king position when the scale alenn. it; is displaced 'l'rom normal position.

11. The vomhination with weighin sralo l-mhodving a lever connected with tl scalr platform and movable 'llioroivltli, of an vlvrlrir lam nand a ciriaiitwfor said lamp; a swim-h in said rirrnit' inrluding a movable (:ontart in proximi y to its opposite con- :art and l-onstrnotod to lend to assume contact nnilting position; and ii-on'neotions lietwoon said lever and said inovalilo contact to hold tho latter away from its o jiposi'u'a contart' when said ltYll is in norn'ial posilion.

12. The (:oinhinnlion with a wrighing srnlo vmhodyingy; a lvvur connvotod with the sralv platform and movable thoi'mvitli oi. an tlllllll lamp and a rironit for said lamp; a swill-h in said (*irrnil inl-hulin gj niovahlv ('(Hliilll in proximity to its opposi'l'o (Ulltal'li and oonstrnotrd to land to assnnnronlllt'l' making: position; (:onnemioi'is lintnx-x0-cn said lrvrr and said movable cont to hold thev lattor away from its opposite contract when said lever is in normal position, and an adjusting screw for 0h? iging the tion of the said opposite Contact and ti cause said term to control lho movable contact ovor a greater or less extant oi the lover movement.

in testimony whereof W0. at'lix our sigmaturns in presence of [WU witnrssos.

HL'RRY ll. BAT-l l). FhllllUEll (1. CllstNl l.

l'l it nossvs:

Hinotlo [*l. llioiunns, l). l). tlixnmcx'ricn. 

